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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- A 73-year-old Yonkers resident has been hospitalized with the first human case of West Nile Virus this year in Westchester County.
The Westchester County Department of Health conducted a local environmental assessment of the area in and around the man’s home for signs of mosquito breeding activity nearby. While no active breeding sites were found, area catch basins were retreated.
As in prior years, the Health Department prepared for the summer mosquito season by applying larvicide briquettes to street catch basins that held standing water on county and local roads in an effort to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as the West Nile virus.
Residents should continue to do their part by taking personal protection measures and removing standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Six positive mosquito batches were identified in Westchester this year, starting July 16. Last year, there were 29 positive pools and four human cases.
“West Nile mosquito activity in Westchester so far is much less than last year,” said Rick Morrissey, deputy commissioner for environmental health. “The county health department conducted extensive mosquito prevention efforts again this year, larviciding more than 40,000 street catch basins. We will continue to monitor mosquito activity and recommend that residents be vigilant in their efforts to remove standing water on their property.”
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